Watercolor Materials for Beginners

Everything you'll need to get started on your watercolor journey!

When dabbling with watercolor for the first time, the first thing you'll struggle with is finding the right materials for you. There are so many options out there, so how will you know which is best? As a beginner, you also may not be interested in splurging on professional-grade materials just yet. Where do you start? Let's start by figuring out what you're looking for from watercolor...

I'd say there are two categories of beginners:

1) The True Dabbler

This is you if you're just looking to snag some materials so you can make some lovely birthday cards and mess around a little. You're not trying to be a watercolor artist, and that's totally ok! You're just dabbling and making things beautiful.

2) The Hobby Artist

This is you if you're looking to develop your watercolor skill and adopt it as a hobby. You're an artist who wants to explore this new medium and get better at it! You may not be looking to go professional, but you're in it for the long-haul and would like quality materials so you can practice true techniques. (You might consider yourself a intermediate-beginner.)

I've been both of these types at some point, and there are definitely materials I loved in each stage of my journey! Whichever you relate to, there are all kinds of different brands that different artists swear by. Keep in mind that these are just the materials I have experience with! (Also this post is 100% not sponsored. These are just my honest thoughts.)

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1. Let's start with the Dabbler...

These are some low maintenance materials that are easy to use and great for making simple, lovely paintings. I used these when I was first introduced to watercolor!

Paints

I own and loved the Artist's Loft watercolor pan for about a year and a half of my watercolor journey! It's great for dabblers because it includes many different colors. You won't need to mix too much, so it's very simple to use. The only downside is that the pigments don't mix well. They make a weird texture when you try to mix a new color, and the pigment doesn't quite absorb into the paper completely.

However, for $6, this is an excellent palette to play with!

Brushes

As a dabbler, you can totally appreciate versatility in your brushes! You don't need a whole studio, just the basics. I have literally one recommendation: The size 6 round brush from Princeton Brush. This brush gets you strokes anywhere between an inch (strong pressure, sideways) and literally pencil thin (no pressure, straight up).

If you're looking for more, you could try some of the other sizes and shapes in the Snap! line. Have some fun! I especially enjoy using a filbert brush too.

Paper

The clear winner here for me is Cason Cold Press paper. Y'all, I'm STILL painting finished products on this. I definitely have nicer paper which I use for commissions and nicer paintings, but seriously, Canson paper is excellent for beginners because of the high quality for the price.

You can snag some on Amazon, Blick's, or anywhere really.

Tip:

Extend the life of your brushes by storing them with the plastic case they come with! This will protect the signature and beautiful snap of round brushes.

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2. Hello, Hobby Artist!

Let's get into your materials, shall we?

You're looking for quality materials that will last, and can support growth as you learn to manipulate the color-puddles better. At the same time though, you don't want to spend a small fortune on professional materials. I 100% get that. In this list, I'll be naming quality materials that won't break the bank.

Paints

I have completely fallen in love with Winsor & Newton paints! I just love how vibrant they are, the way the pigments mix together, and how they absorb into the paper.

I like to buy tubes of my chosen pigments, squeeze a dollop into my palette pan, and let them dry into cakes overnight. However, the tubes can get pricey...

The easiest alternative is to purchase a pan set. This is basically the familiar watercolor setup: dry pigment pans in a convenient carrier. The plus side here is that you'll be getting high-quality pigments, and room to mix your own colors on the mixing sheets as well. You can even buy replacement color-pans to mix and match your desired palette. There are some really great options that are less than $25, and I have my eye on some for travel even as we speak 😁

Brushes

If you only get one brush, let it be the size 6 round brush from Princeton Brush Heritage Series! This brush is gorgeous and gets you strokes anywhere between an inch (strong pressure, sideways) and literally pencil thin (no pressure, straight up). It holds its shape, and is just excellent quality.

I know they are a little pricey, but they are truly worth it for the long-haul! I have the exact same size+shape brush from the less costly Snap! series, which I recommended above. I have used the Heritage round pretty much every day, much more often than the Snap, and somehow, the Snap is in worse shape. It's all about quality, my friend. 👌

If you're looking for more brushes, I honestly would recommend any of the other sizes and shapes in the Heritage line. My favorites are the size 6 and 16 round brushes and a size 4 filbert brush.

Tip:

Extend the life of your brushes by storing them with the plastic case they come with! This will protect the signature and beautiful snap of round brushes.

Paper

*Note: I prefer cold press (textured) paper. I've tried to branch out before, but I just like the aesthetic.

A clear winner here for me is Cason Cold Press paper. I have entire collections painted on it! I also have some slightly nicer paper (Legion Cold Press) which I use for commissions and finer paintings, but Canson is a great choice because of the quality for the price.

You can snag some on Amazon, Blick's, or anywhere really.

Here's a side by side so you can see what I mean. The difference is almost unnoticeable once the paint has dried...

I would say that in practice, the Legion paper is better at handling lots of water, especially when working with gradients or with wet-on-wet. The pigments also tend to come out a bit smoother. However you'll definitely get along great with Canson too! 😊

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Hopefully this'll help with the first step on your watercolor journey! If you have any other questions or if I missed anything, let me know. The important thing is to experiment and have fun with it! Trying lots of different materials if you can.

If you get inspired to paint anything with these materials, I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @ardent.draws ❤️

Are you a Hobbyist or a Dabbler?

👇 Let me know what you're most excited to paint!